Ctek Battery Charger & Negative Connection to XC60 Chassis

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by RS3100

If I'm away, I leave the Ctek connected on a timer switch that switches it on once a week for 8 hours to let it do its thing. Despite what Ctek and other smart charger manufacturers say, I won't leave these chargers permanently connected as I have found from previous experience that they will boil dry or shorten battery life over time if left on permanent trickle

Yes they will,we have an old RAV4 that sits for weeks and drains it’s battery there is an electrical fault somewhere, so the ctek is the cheapest solution (compared to trying to diagnose the issue on a 15 year old car) I have a ctek monitor to fit to it but not managed to get round to it yet....... it will however be installed in one of the switch blanks in the cabin either near gear stick or headlight switch.......currently unlatch the bonnet when parking it so we can put it on charge easily.

[Mick787]

Zebster, the optional lead comfort lead provided by CTEK isn't that long. They do an extension lead if you felt the need to position it in the grill or wherever. If you check out a large online retailer who's name is the same as that of a large rain forest, you will see there are numerous CTEK accessories, one even plugs into a cigarette lighter. They do an indicator panel with a longer lead to mount on a grill or similar. I must add, I have no personal interest in CTEK and other chargers are available.

To other members, each to their own, if someone wants to rely on the vehicle's electronics to say when the battery needs charge, that is their choice. A member asked a question and I did my best to give an answer.

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Mick787

Zebster, the optional lead comfort lead provided by CTEK isn't that long. They do an extension lead if you felt the need to position it in the grill or wherever. If you check out a large online retailer who's name is the same as that of a large rain forest, you will see there are numerous CTEK accessories, one even plugs into a cigarette lighter. They do an indicator panel with a longer lead to mount on a grill or similar. I must add, I have no personal interest in CTEK and other chargers are available.

To other members, each to their own, if someone wants to rely on the vehicle's electronics to say when the battery needs charge, that is their choice. A member asked a question and I did my best to give an answer.

In which case I'm glad I didn't buy an expensive CTEK charger and instead bought a much cheaper Hyundai smart charger that has the same capabilities plus long enough cables to fit either my V60 our our Sportage, both of which require the negative lead to be mounted on the engine.

Volvo owners seem absolutely obsessed by battery charging!

[Mick787]

Excellent Zebster, I'm glad you found something that met your requirements, just like I did. Wouldn't it be a boring place if we were all the same eh? Much like people buying a Volvo rather than a Lada. Each to their own. Personal choice!

[Zebster]

Originally Posted by Mick787

Excellent Zebster, I'm glad you found something that met your requirements, just like I did. Wouldn't it be a boring place if we were all the same eh? Much like people buying a Volvo rather than a Lada. Each to their own. Personal choice!

You are quite right!

But those concerned with battery issues should be advised that the car itself has been designed to give much more accurate dash message updates on battery health/state-of-charge than any simple light display relying only upon voltage levels and risks giving misleading information. Not sure that Lada ever incorporated this level of monitoring?

[RS3100]

Originally Posted by Zebster

You are quite right!

But those concerned with battery issues should be advised that the car itself has been designed to give much more accurate dash message updates on battery health/state-of-charge than any simple light display relying only upon voltage levels and risks giving misleading information. Not sure that Lada ever incorporated this level of monitoring?

Plus cars with stop/start and regenerative braking use EFB or AGM batteries designed to work optimally at 80% SOC and according to VIDA the software and electrical system on such Volvos is designed to maintain the battery at that level.

Nothing wrong with giving the battery a charge to prevent or recover from excessive discharge if the car hasn't been used for several weeks or is used mainly for very short journeys, but don't get hung up on trying to keep the battery fully charged, because the car electronics will be working against you and you will be throwing time and money down the drain ;-)